So you get "free updates" to your colors as long as you stay paid up? I can't wait for the next version of Pantone Pink -- I mean, really. </sarc>
Given that most folks who use Pantone colors shouldn't be, I don't see this as a loss --- folks who actually want to use spot colours should pay.
Now it's time for GIMP to shine and come to the rescue.
This is likely something that Pantone the company has caused by hopping on the subscription model bandwagon because they have a stronghold on the printing industry anyway so they can afford to. This is nothing Gimp will solve because they can’t simply ship a licensed product for free and get away with it.